The Gospel of John #27

By Robert Guenther

We are continuing our review of the Gospel of John and after the Lord had fed the 5,000 we read that there was a big storm that had come upon them and they saw Jesus walking on the sea and He entered into the ship that His disciples were going to Capernaum in.

Vs. Joh 6:20 “But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.” First, I want to point out that the expression “It is I” should have been translated “I am”. Second, the fact that the Lord could walk on water was revealed in the Old Testament in Job 9:8 “Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.” Job is stating this fact that God can walk on water because of Who He is. Third, it is also stated in Psalm 89:8 & 9 the waves O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when thereof arise, thou stillest them. God can calm the wind and control the sea. So once again our Lord is using these circumstances to prove that He is God to His disciples and to us if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.

Vs. Joh 6:21 “Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” It is not stated how he calmed the sea but merely that they were taken to the sea shore immediately.

Vs. Joh 6:22 “The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one where into his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;” I find it interesting that our Lord does not explain His actions to the people. They did not see him enter the boat that the disciples were on so they begin to question where he might be.

Vs. Joh 6:23 “(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)” They must have had knowledge that His disciples were going to go to Capernaum so as we read in our next verse they will seek Him there.

Vs. Joh 6:24 “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus .” We read in our next verse that they ask Him how he arrived with His disciples since they did not see leave or arrive.

Vs Joh 6:25 “And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?” I find it interesting that the Lord does not answer their question on how he arrived but rather He says to them why are you seeking Me. to be continued…